Right. And it is any wonder that they call themselves “Catholic” at all. It’s stupid, moronic, and inconsistent. Why are they not Unitarian, or some other more liberal protestant denomination??
**I totally understand where you’re coming from Syntax. The rules of the CC make complete sense to you and so far you aren’t in conflict with any of the teachings, or if you once were, they are resolved. So of course, it would be very strange (stupid, moronic, and inconsistent even

) for someone to still call themselves “Catholic” when they are in conflict with some of the teachings of the Church. But I can answer that: Because those other denominations don’t have the Trinity, the Immaculate Conception, the Eucharist, the Rosary, and all those other wonderful things that come with being Catholic. If there were, perhaps more people would leave the Church an join that other hypothetical religion, but so far, it doesn’t exist. Something is missing, and that something is evidently important enough to keep people who don’t agree with
everything the CC teaches. Does that make sense? Probably not, but I tried. Because I understand you. **
This is a dumb question. Why would anyone give themselves the label of group whose doctrines and principles he or she outright disagreed with from the start?
**
Maybe it’s not from the start? Because they agree with enough of it to associate themselves with that group? Beause they started out with the basics. Maybe they thought they agreed with it all, all their lives, and the more they thought about it, the less some teachings made sense, while other teachings just made more sense? Maybe they’re still in the process of sorting it all out? While people like you (no offense, really this isn’t a personal attack) are yelling at them about how they don’t belong and to just go away. Maybe even they haven’t found anything “better” yet?**
It depends on the extent to which they actually defy Church Teachings. If a person denies important Catholic Doctrine outright, then they are very arguably not Catholic. But if they genuinely struggle with, say, an addiction to pornography that they are trying to overcome, they are still very much Catholic because they don’t deny the teachings but are striving to better themselves.
**Well, I was told that I was not longer in communion with the Church by certain members of CAF because I said that, “I would like to see women ordained as priests, and I don’t really understand or agree with the reasons why they can’t, but I accept the rules and will just pray about it, and maybe someday they will. Or at least I hope so”. I don’t defy the pope, I don’t picket, I don’t send nastygrams to the Pope or Bishop, I don’t rally at girls’ high schools, or any of that. I just don’t get it and don’t agree with it, but I accept it as a teaching. Clearly certain catholic members of CAF don’t believe one has the right to think for themselves, or use their brains to think with, but rather, should have a sheep mentality.
However, to answer you more directly, I think at one time or another, we all
struggle with issues that the Church teaches, whether we all want to admit them or not. I truly, honestly, emphatically do NOT believe someone who says that they agree with every single thing that the Church teaches without question and without reserve. I just don’t believe that person. However, such a person would be a very blessed and lucky person, because it would certainly make life a lot easier, wouldn’t it? I believe that people who say that they just “decided to believe, and so now I believe” are full of a big pot of gas-producing beans. And I certainly don’t believe someone who claims: “I chose to believe, I just said to myself, just believe: and now I believe”. They’re lying, or just not capable of thinking for themselves. It happens

. But I don’t think that’s the case, I think they have to be lying, either to themselves, the world, or both. The human mind isn’t capable of it. You can’t look at a teaching, and if that teaching goes against your moral values for whatever reason, to just say, “that’s okay, I believe”.
Anyway, with regards to following the letter of the Catholic Law VS being a “Cafeteria Catholic”, aren’t those people who kicked out the gay couple’s kid out of school guilty of their own special brand of Cafeteria Catholicism? IIRC, the catechism says that you are NOT supposed to discriminate against gay people, that you are supposed to guide them and encourage them, teach them by example, pray for them, but not treat them as outcasts. So that school, as well as those who agree with the school, are in conflict with the very catechism that they say others MUST obey or else. Aren’t they? **
Christ was right. Don’t condemn anyone. But Christ didn’t mean we should tolerate wholescale sin when we see it. Christ also taught repentence, forgiveness, and a return to God when we do sin:shrug:
**With regards to this thead, I believe the directive from the Church is to teach by example, pray for the person(s), explain the rules, and why they are rules, don’t treat them any differently but make them understand you don’t condone their actions, that you love them, but hate their sin. Right? In the end, you can’t change them, and you certainly won’t change them by making them outcasts, but you might if you follow the rules of the Church like one wants THEM to follow. Again, lead by example. **